TORRES SAVES LIVERPOOL

Spanish striker scores twice as the Merseysiders turn on the style against FC Porto in Champions League qualifier at Anfield





Fernando Torres scored his first goals in the Champions League as Liverpool kept alive their hopes of a top two finish with a 4-1 win over FC Porto at Anfield.

The Spanish striker debuted in the Champions League group stages against FC Porto back on the September 18 in Liverpool’s opening Group A fixture, and it was fitting that Fernando Torres’ first goals should come against the Portuguese opponents.

Torres gave the Reds the lead in the first half and put Liverpool into the lead again with just under twelve minutes remaining after FC Porto had equalised through Lisandro in the 33th minute.

The game started brightly, but Rafa Benitez’ side had to wait until the 19th minute to take the lead. Gerrard swung over a corner from the right and Torres rose well between Stepanov and Gonzalez to power home a downward header past Helton in the Portuguese goal.

FC Porto replied just after the half hour mark as Przemyslaw Kazmierczak crossed from the left for Lopez to head past Reina. The equaliser was the Portuguese side’s first real chance, and the goal came against the run of play, as the Reds had dominated the opening exchanges.

The last chance of the first half fell to the Portuguese champions, but Lopez failed to hit the target from close range with Reina beaten.

Following the restart, some great play from Fernando Torres set up Yossi Benayoun, but the Israeli international mistimed his shot.

Liverpool continued to push forward and Rafa Benitez introduced Harry Kewell and Peter Crouch as the Reds looked to score a second.

The substitutions worked a treat as Kewell set up Fernando Torres for Liverpool’s, and the striker’s, second of the night. The Australian skipped past two before passing to Torres, who held off the Portuguese defence before curling the ball past Helton.

Liverpool’s second goal drove them forward and four minutes later Steven Gerrard sent Helton the wrong way from the penalty-spot to make it three.

Peter Crouch scored Liverpool’s fourth with two minutes remaining as he headed in Gerrard's corner into the back of the net to round off the night.

In the other Group A game Besiktas beat Olympique Marseille 2-1 in Turkey. Despite the loss, FC Porto still top the group with 8 points, followed by Liverpool in second with 7 points, Olympique Marseille in third with 7 points, and Besiktas bottom with 6 points.


Match Stats: Liverpool 4-1 FC Porto

Liverpool: Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Arbeloa, Benayoun (Crouch 71), Gerrard, Mascherano, Babel (Kuyt 85), Voronin (Kewell 63), Torres.

Booked: Hyypia.

Goals: Torres 19, 78, Gerrard 84 pen, Crouch 88.

FC Porto: Helton, Bosingwa, Stepanov, Bruno Alves, Cech, Mariano Gonzalez (Sektioui 77), Lucho Gonzalez, Paulo Assuncao (Postiga 81), Kazmierczak (Raul Meireles 65), Quaresma, Lopez.

Booked: Paulo Assuncao, Stepanov, Quaresma.

Goals: Lopez 33.